Radiation: CNS complications

Introduction

CNS complications of radiation are also known as or subsume Late radiation effects and Radiation toxicity. -ed.

Several early and late radiation-induced complications of the nervous system have been described. They may include radiation necrosis, cerebrovascular disease, cognitive deficits, endocrinopathies, encephalopathy, myelopathy, plexopathy radiculopathy, neuropathy, and secondary malignancies. In this clinical article, Dr. Zubair Shaikh of Mid Michigan Medical Center discusses in detail the various radiation complications and therapeutic options. Dr. Shaikh has added 2 new references about radiation-induced myelopathy following radiosurgery and usefulness of SPECT in differentiating recurrent tumor from radiation necrosis.